Russia has fired its hypersonic Oreshnik missile at Ukraine, marking the first reported use of this weapon with explosive warheads. The Oreshnik, named after the hazel tree, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads to strike different targets simultaneously. Previously tested with dummy warheads, its deployment in this attack signals an escalation in Russia's military tactics.

The missile, based on the RS-26 Rubezh, can be equipped with either nuclear or conventional warheads, though no nuclear component was reported in this strike. Russian officials claim the Oreshnik is nearly impossible to intercept and possesses destructive power comparable to nuclear arms, but some Western experts dispute these assertions, describing the weapon as experimental and limited in quantity.

Russia stated the launch was in retaliation for an alleged Ukrainian drone attack, which Ukraine denies. The strike targeted infrastructure in Ukraine's Lviv region near the border with Poland, raising concerns about broader regional security. Ukrainian officials have called the attack a global threat, urging an international response as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue.